Preamble

The House—after the Adjournment on 24th September, 1948—met in St. Stephen's Hall at Twelve o'Clock.

PRAYERS

[Mr. SPEAKER in the Chair]

PROROGATION

HIS MAJESTY'S MOST GRACIOUS SPEECH

Message to attend the Lords Commissioners.

The House went; and having returned—

Mr. Speaker(standing in the Clerk's place at the Table): I have to acquaint the House that the House has been to the House of Peers where a Commission under the Great Seal was read. The LORD CHANCELLOR, being one of the Royal Commissioners, delivered His Majesty's most Gracious Speech to both Houses of Parliament, in pursuance of His Majesty's Commands, as follows:

My Lords and Members of the House of Commons:

The Session now ending has been marked by the meeting of My Prime Ministers and other Ministers representing Commonwealth countries. 1 have been happy to welcome to this country those who have come from overseas to attend the meeting and I am sure that great good must come of this personal exchange of views between the Leaders of My Governments.

I am also gratified that the Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference has brought together in the United Kingdom many other distinguished citizens from Commonwealth countries.

Representatives of My peoples in Africa have conferred in London with My Ministers. Their meetings will, I am confident, promote closer understanding, co-operative endeavour and mutual benefit.

My Government have continued to take an active part in the work of the

Organisation for European Economic Co-operation, which has recently agreed upon recommendations about the division of the first year's aid from the United States. My Government, together with the other members of the Organisation, have also signed a convention to facilitate trade and payments among the countries concerned.

My Government have taken certain measures to strengthen My Armed Forces. They have also, in association with the other Governments signatory to the Treaty of Brussels, set up the nucleus of a command organisation for the defence forces of the Five Powers, and made arrangements to deal with problems of production and equipment.

The two Houses have again failed to agree on the Bill to amend the Parliament Act, 1911.

My Ministers have drawn counsel and support from your valuable debates on the international situation. on defence and on economic affairs.

I pray that the blessing of Almighty God may attend you.

Then a Commission for Proroguing the Parliament was read in the House of Lords;

After which the LORD CHANCELLOR said:

"My Lords and Members of the House of Commons:

By virtue of His Majesty's Commission, under the Great Seal, to us and other Lords directed, and now read, we do, in His Majesty's Name and in obedience to His Majesty's Commands, prorogue this Parliament to Tuesday, the Twenty-sixth day of October, One Thousand Nine Hundred and Forty-eight, to be then here holden; and this Parliament is accordingly prorogued until Tuesday, the Twenty-sixth day of October, One Thousand Nine Hundred and Forty-eight."

End of the Fourth Session (opened 14th September, 1948) of the Thirty-eighth Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, in the Twelfth Year of the Reign of His Majesty King George the Sixth.